INLD threatens to stop Punjab vehicles on July 10 over SYL

Chandigarh, April 29 : Haryana’s opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) on Saturday announced that its activists will stop all vehicles entering the state from Punjab at the Shambhu barrier near Ambala on July 10 as part of its demonstrations to push for the SYL canal.

This was decided at a meeting of INLD leadership here on Saturday. INLD general secretary Abhay Singh Chautala and state INLD president Ashok Arora chaired the meeting.

“We will not allow any (Punjab) government buses, nor any government vehicles, nor any minister or MLA to enter Haryana. Even if the Punjab Chief Minister tries to come, he will be stopped at the Haryana border,” Chautala told the media after the meeting.

He said that private vehicles would not be stopped from entering Haryana in the day-long protest.

“We will stop the private vehicles also but let them go after handing over pamphlets, justifying Haryana’s stand on the SYL issue and water sharing, and flowers. We will urge them to impress upon the Punjab government to allow construction of the SYL canal,” Chautala said.

The INLD, earlier this month, started a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi over the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue.

The INLD had taken hundreds of activists towards the Punjab border at Shambhu, 10 km from Ambala, on the National Highway No. 1 (NH-1) on February 23, saying that it will start digging the SYL canal in Punjab.

The INLD protesters were stopped by Punjab Police at the Shambhu barrier. Their top leaders were arrested.

Following a Presidential Reference, the Supreme Court in November last year held the passing of the Punjab Termination of Water Agreements Bill, 2004, by the Punjab assembly as “unconstitutional”. It directed that the SYL canal should be constructed.

The Punjab government has flatly refused to construct the canal saying that the state has no more water to share with Haryana.